Must-See TV

Have you seen the Great British Baking Show? I'd heard buzz about it for awhile but frankly thought it sounded like a snoozer so I avoided it. Curiosity finally got the best of me and once I started watching it was hook, line, and sinker. I even got Ryan to willingly watch it with me. It's like any other reality TV show but it's unlike any other reality TV show because there is virtually NO drama between contestants. No back-biting, no sabotaging, and no snarky remarks at or about the judges. It's totally a show that the whole family can watch (Davis, my little sous chef, joined us a few times). Give it a watch for a couple of episodes, you might be surprised how much you like it. Now excuse me while I go try to master the art of baking French Macarons.

On Gratitude

Over the past week or so I experienced a couple of unfortunate events---nothing earth-shattering, or even consequential in the grand scheme of things, but just disappointing enough to make me grumpy and ungrateful. And so, at a time of year when the rest of the world was focusing on the abundance of their blessings, I was acting anything but grateful. It was about this time while I was perfecting the art of feeling sorry for myself that I came across this quote shared by a friend:

When you're looking for joy you will always find it hiding in your gratitude. --Ann Voskamp

I have thought of it over and over since I read it. And I believe it. I love President Uchtdorf's talk, "Grateful in any Circumstance," and President Monson's conference address from a few years ago, "The Divine Gift of Gratitude." I have really been trying to have a more grateful heart and it has helped me to be happier more than any other singular effort that I have put forth. I think that Heavenly Father must get really frustrated with me at times because this is a lesson that I have had to learn over and over and over (and most certainly will learn again in the not-so-distant future). As a mother, when my children show gratitude for the things that I do for them, it really motivates me to serve them even more. I can't help but wonder if God isn't exactly the same way, especially when we are sincere and heartfelt about our thanks to Him. President Monson said, in the talk reference above, that "Sincerely giving thanks unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."
I have much to be grateful for. I hope I can remember to find happiness by showing gratitude, even during times of discouragement and trial.
Here are four little people that I am grateful for:

One of the lucky two at Thanksgiving dinner who scored a turkey leg.  

It was too cold for sane humans to swim on Thanksgiving day, but that didn't stop our Davey and his siblings.

Nater's happy face.

A Jedi is always prepared, even with a helmet during cookie decorating, just in case.  

On My Mind...

Ryan and the kids on a hike in East Rock Park near our home in CT. I miss those trees!

• The kids started school this week which has made Arizona feel a little bit more like home (we've still got a long way to go, but we are on our way). Thankfully, both Isaac and Maddie seem to be adjusting well. They like their teachers and they are both making friends. 
• With Isaac and Maddie in school, I have started reading lessons with Davis (from my favorite "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" book). We call it his "school" (since we decided not to send him to preschool) and we do one lesson each afternoon during Nathan's nap. I had forgotten how much I like the first 50 lessons in the book! It's been awhile. It's the second 50 lessons that are anything but "easy". That said, the first three lessons have gone great. Three down, ninety-seven to go!

Maddie and "Ashley", the sister she never had. Thanks, Grandma, for giving Maddie an inanimate object that she thinks is alive. Lars and the Real Girl, anyone?

• I got a haircut last week and it's the shortest it's been in as long as I can remember. I figure now that I'm living in the desert I may as well be as comfortable as possible in the heat. I like it (sorry no pic, I'll take one soon). New state, new life, new haircut, right?
• Not related to hair at all, but scorpions freak me out. I saw my first one a week ago, climbing up the wall inside church, just a couple of feet in front of me. The lady behind me pointed it out and whispered to me right in the middle of the lesson, "How about you go kill that with your shoe?" Terrified, I tried to respond nonchalantly, "Uhhh, why don't you show me how it's done?" So she did. One swift whack with her shoe and the insect (are scorpions insects?) was obliterated. Only a couple of other ladies noticed what was going on---the teacher didn't have any idea and didn't skip a beat in the lesson. It still gives me chills to think about. 
• I re-activated my Facebook account tonight. Our church ward here in AZ communicates a lot through a Relief Society Facebook group and, to be quite honest, I need to make friends! So back to FB it is. I hope I can use it without using it too much this time around. 

Nater eating an ice cream cone like a big boy. I miss those curls!

• Have you read the following quote?

Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff. 

~Catherine M. Wallace~

I've been thinking a lot about this quote and trying to apply it in my life a little more and be a better listener to my children...but you guys...Davis talks NONSTOP...I can't keep up! I was making mental notes about his verbal stamina in Costco the other day and he seriously did not draw breath the entire shopping trip!! I love my boy but can't for the life of me figure out how to "listen earnestly" to everything he says because he Never.Stops.Talking!! Not to mention the other 3 little humans and their needs. What do you say to that, Ms. Wallace?

Ryan thinks we need to buy a necklace, and the kids are only allowed to talk when they are wearing it. "That way," he said, "Only one child will be able to talk to us at a time, and we'll get a little bit of silence each time they are busy transferring the necklace back and forth."

Our Life Lately

Corey and Jed won Nater over pretty quickly with all the love and attention they gave him. 

The stress of looking for a job is starting to take a toll on Ryan...as you can see he has resorted to binge drinking with DDP being is poison of choice on this particular night. 

While Corey and Jed were in town we went to a Yale hockey game. The kids love the popcorn and the Zamboni, and sometimes we even get cotton candy which is always a hit. Davis still wants to be a hockey player when he grows up, so he can "hit stuff wif a stick!"

Nate really enjoyed his first taste of cotton candy. 

My parents have been married 40 years today. I have really been blessed with a great family. Isn't this picture fabulous? I wish my dad still had those pants.

This big guy is seven months old! How did that happen? I can't get enough of his rosy cheeks, chin cleft, baby blue eyes, and never ending chub rolls! And his smile is pretty contagious too.

•   2013 was really good to us, with the best part of the year being the birth of our sweet baby boy. He has brought so much joy to our family. That said, we are welcoming 2014 with open arms. I am really excited (and to be honest, just a little bit {a lot} anxious) to see what this year holds for our family. Big changes are coming. 
• Have you set any new year's resolutions? I have been thinking about mine and what I want to focus on. Some of them are inconsequential (I want to be strong enough to do a pull-up by the end of the year) and some of them carry a little more weight (like consciously trying to be more present and available with my children{I'm still working on how to measure that one}, and making an effort to be more gentle and kind with everyone). 
• Ryan and I got to go on a date while my sister was here (Thanks Corey and Jed!) and we went and saw The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I loved it.
• Isaac has a new friend in his class that is a native Spanish speaker. It has been really rewarding for me to see him want to learn new words and phrases. And it's motivated me to recommit to speaking to my kids in Spanish as much as possible. I really fell off the wagon awhile ago...
• Happy New Year!

It's Autumn Time, It's Autumn Time!

It's much more fun to be a mother when your kids are getting along.

• Fall has definitely arrived here in CT. The leaves have started changing colors (so beautiful!), hoodies are a daily part of our wardrobe, and we even put our air conditioning units away until next summer. I love this time of year and am crossing my fingers that it lasts until Thanksgiving.
• Isaac and Maddie both seem to have fallen into the school routine quite well. I like the structure that it gives us during the week, and I think everyone in the family has a new-found love for Saturdays. It can often be heard on Saturday mornings, "Mom, can we stay in our pajamas all morning if we want to?" One of my favorite new habits that Isaac has adopted is that of raising his hand--he raises his hand almost nightly at dinner if he has a question or wants to say something. Makes me smile every time.

Having a pretend sleepover with big sis.

•  I am so so so excited about the announcement from General Conference regarding the age change for missionary work in The Church. What a difference this could make! My mission changed me in so many positive ways that I can only hope for it for all of my children. Not everyone needs a mission, but I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't served. So many life lessons were learned. I still reap the blessings from that decision I made almost 13 years ago.
• Speaking of General Conference, there were so many great talks, weren't there? As is to be expected, Elder Holland's talk, "The First Great Commandment" on Sunday morning was one of my favorites---I love how he is using so many New Testament examples in his discourses these days. We are currently studying Jesus the Christ in Institute, so his examples are taking on more and more meaning as we study the life of Christ this semester. I also loved Elder Gay's talk, "What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?",   Elder Oaks' talk, "Protect the Children", and President Uchtdorf's talk, "Of Regrets and Resolutions." 

Maddie at college football pre-game party for kids. She watched the kids 3x her age go down the slide before her and got too many daredevil ideas.

• I think the D-Man might have turned a corner in his toddlerhood. He has recently become easier to reason with, slower to anger, more likely to listen, and generally a happier child. He cracks us up on a daily basis and it is fun to finally be able to see his little personality come to light. He seems to shine best when we have guests that give him lots of love and attention. He really won over his grandparents last week.
• LEGOS are taking over our home. I am happy that both Isaac and Maddie are in love with these little plastic blocks, but they are seriously EVERYWHERE. Ryan has already put a ban on LEGOS for Christmas, insisting that we give them something else. I don't think it will last.
•  My dear friend, Kandis, is coming to visit us for Thanksgiving. I am so very excited. Ryan will be working that day so it will make the holiday much more fun to have her around. Plus, I can't wait to see her.We really have so much to look forward to.

Pictures and Thoughts

Recent Summer Happenings

Ryan and the kids at a Pioneer Day Celebration with our Stake.

The beloved tire swing. I get dizzy just watching them.

The kids and I have been taking field trips with friends every Thursday this summer. We hit up Stew Leonard's most recently--I would describe it as "Chuck E. Cheese meets grocery shopping." Each department, from dairy to produce, has singing food and interactive displays. It takes kid-friendly shopping to a whole new level.

There was even a giant chicken that had the kids in a fit of giggles.

Davis, straining to see the singing cows above him.

I scream, you scream, we've eaten way too much ice cream! They really pack on the sprinkles at Stew's.

Friday nights at our house we can almost always be found eating pizza and watching a movie. This particular night was a special treat because the kids got to invite friends along for a "late-over" (our substitute for sleepovers). 

My children rarely take me up on the offer to make cookies together ("You can just do it, mom!"), but Maddie loves to help make pizza. Davy joined in as well and must have said, "Mmmmm! Yummy in my tummmy!" a dozen times as more pepperoni ended up in his mouth than on the pizza. 

Celebrating at a friend's "Pirates and Mermaids" themed birthday party on the beach. The kids were in heaven with a treasure hunt, a pinata, a visit from the ice cream truck, and sweet goodie bags, not to mention face painting and matching homemade costumes for all the guests. 

• The final weeks of summer are upon us and I feel like I'm on the brink of entering a new phase in my life--having a school-age child. Is it odd that I am more nervous about sending little Maddie off to formal preschool a few mornings a week than I am about sending Isaac to kindergarten? I am still questioning my decision to enroll her in preschool, whereas with Isaac I don't feel that I had a decision to make at all. Time will tell if it is what is best for her, and if it's not, I won't hesitate to keep her home with me a little while longer. 
• Davis has recently picked up an aversion to his Sunday nursery class. When we ask him if he's ready to go play with his friends, he emphatically declares, "No Way!" and we have to leave him crying each week so Ryan and I can teach our Sunday school courses. This is my first experience with separation anxiety--any advice?
• In a couple of weeks I get to fly home to Utah by myself to spend a few days with my family and see Wicked with my mom, sisters, and nieces. I can't wait. I am beyond excited to spend time with family and of course I'm looking forward to getting away for a few days. I've never left all of my children for more than one night so it should be an interesting and liberating few days. I'm sure they will love the quality time they get to spend with their dad. 
• I love the Olympics, especially the summer games. Unfortunately, I realized too late that we wouldn't be able to access the sporting events via the internet (our antenna doesn't pick up NBC). I've been going through major withdrawals, so Ryan and I headed to a sports bar for dinner the other night and watched Gabby Douglas make history and Rebecca Soni beat the world record in the 200 meter breast stroke. It was just the pride-in-America boost that I needed (not to mention spending a little time with the hubby was refreshing). And I learned my lesson---we will be getting cable before the next Olympic games. 
• I love this talk by Elder Holland.  I don't know that I've ever read a more powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. And this talk by Sister Beck about having a "Mother Heart." Sister Beck says that women with mother hearts believe that "To nurture and feed [children] physically is as much an honor as to nurture and feed them spiritually. She is “not weary in well-doing” and delights to serve her family, because she knows that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33)." I remind myself of this when making muffins and quesadillas starts to feel mundane. 

Making a List

Spending the day at the Stamford Nature Center with friends.

Is it really already mid July? Time always seems to march on but lately it is flying by. My better half has been busier than usual this past month and we are doing our best to keep busy right along with him since staying occupied seems to make his absence more bearable. It's during rotations like these that I have to give myself more positive self-talk than usual. i'm telling you, It's sink or swim time and I've got my flippers on and I'm doing my best doggie paddle.

I am so thankful that my children are young and will most likely never remember the absence of their dad in the years to come. It really is such a special time of their lives and I am trying my best to take in their sweetness while simultaneously mustering up the patience and energy to take care of all of their needs. I think I'm getting better at it.

I know I will look back on our CT years with fondness because we have met wonderful people and seen wonderful places. I just hope (really, REALLY hope) that I look back on these years someday and think, "That was a really busy, trying time, but it was really worth it. It was just what our family needed at that time." In all my positive self-talk I have made many mental lists of things that I love about post-graduate training, so tonight I'm putting it on virtual paper:

• We have a job. Any job is better than no job, no matter how many hours you have to work.
• Ryan is receiving training that he needs to become competent in his line of work.
• Ryan and I never get the chance to be sick of each other because our time together is minimal.
• We don't disagree about how to parent our kids because only one of us is available to parent right now. :)
• The strength of our Church family has become so much more significant and meaningful for me since moving away from our own family. 
• Somehow we have been fortunate enough to grow closer together rather than further apart. Living thousands of miles from family is very difficult but it has caused us to rely on one another in a way that we might not have otherwise. I am thankful for that challenge and opportunity.

Maddie loves manning the GPS. 

Random Thoughts on a Friday Night

• Isaac is officially registered for kindergarten at our neighborhood school. His name wasn't chosen from the lottery for the downtown bilingual school. When we received the letter of regret I was strangely relieved...really relieved. No decision to make, no long bus ride, no wondering if I should have placed him in the other school. Not having a choice is sometimes the easiest option of all. That being said, I'm not sure how our bilingual home will work out once he is in school all day and only has a couple of hours at home each night--especially when the homework starts to come. And that makes my heart hurt a little. If anyone has advice on the matter, I'm all ears. It seems that everyone knows someone who is raising their children in a bilingual home. I would love to hear success stories...or any stories.
• I've been reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with my older kids for the past week or so. It is magical! I remember watching the original movie many times as a kid but this is my first time reading the book. They are really getting into it (what kid wouldn't love to hear about a chocolate waterfall and gobstoppers that last forever?). I kind of see it as a tiny peace offering at the end of each day---no matter how many mistakes I make as a mother, I can read to them about endless amounts of candy and they always seem to forget any lack of patience I showed them earlier in the day. 
• I recently read the following statement: blogging = life editing, and I couldn't agree more. I don't know how you could blog and paint a perfectly complete picture. No one wants to read Debbie Downer posts every day, but it can be easy to feel frustrated or inferior (guilty as charged) when all you read about are the wonderful moments in someone else's life, especially after a difficult day with your own children. That being said, everyone has the right to post what they want and filter what they want, just as each person has the right to choose whether or not to read said filtration. I have been thinking lately about why I write, and particularly why I blog. There are a number of reasons (including validation---it definitely puts a smile on my face when I see a new comment), but a few are most important to me: 1) I blog more than anything for my own children, particularly for my daughter (and future daughters-in-law). One day I hope she is fortunate enough to become a mother herself and that she finds joy in reading about her childhood as well as comfort in the trials and triumphs that I went through as a mother of young children. 2) I do it for the faraway grandparents, and 3) I do it because I enjoy writing and documenting what life is like for us, however edited/filtered it may be.
• I am so excited for CT in the summertime. Field trips, fruit farms, and beaches are some of the things at the top of my summer bucket list.
• Speaking of summer, I am thrilled that Ryan is almost finished with his first year of residency. While his schedule won't ease up much in second year, he will be in his second year! Goodbye low man on the totem pole! We're slowly inching our way closer to the middle now.
• I heart watching different t.v. series on Netflix at night after the kids are in bed. It seriously saves me from loneliness (and makes for a great at-home date night when Ryan is around). Downton Abbey is my current show of choice, though I am still going through FNL withdrawals since I just wrapped that series up. I think Coach Taylor and Tami might be my favorite t.v. couple ever.
• How 'bout them Mommy Wars, eh? Working mothers, I salute you and marvel at your ability to juggle so much. Stay-at-home mothers, I feel your pains and joys in this work---because it IS work, too. I think more than anything we just need to bind ourselves together and realize that we are all on the same team. And let's not let the media's attempt to pit us against each other work. I mean, seriously, can't we all just get along? 
• Wasn't the most recent General Conference fantastic? So many excellent talks. Some of my current favorites include Elder Wilson's talk, Elder Holland (always) and President Uchtdorf's talks--both on mercy and envy, Elder Baxter's talk to single parents, and Elder Ballard's talk. Conference time seems to find me swinging from one end of the pendulum to the other: Spiritual high one moment and feelings of "I have so far to go to get where I want/need to be" the next. But it's those feelings that help get me motivated to make needed changes in my life. 
• Speaking of Conference, I have been thinking a lot about Elder Wilson's talk about the difference between compelling our children vs. gently persuading them. It has been humbling for me to realize the mistakes I have been making concerning this matter and how I need to begin letting my children (especially Isaac and Maddie) exercise more of their own agency in the choices they make. Elder Wilson said, "Wise parents prepare their children to get along without them." I want to be that kind of parent. Surprisingly, my attempt at giving them more freedom is making my life easier. I mean, who knew that Maddie could make her own peanut butter sandwich and that she would be so excited at the prospect? I gladly hand over those reigns whenever she'll take them. 
• Wow. I really had a lot to say tonight. If you are still reading, you are likely one of my parents, so these videos are for you:

Ryan playing wrestle-mania with the kids. It's their new favorite game. In order to get the full effect, please turn your volume up full throttle and then place your ear right over the speaker. That's the only way you will truly be able to understand what it's like to be me in the same room as these crazy wrestlers.


Davis "reading" his new favorite book, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Please excuse the shaky cam. I was multi-tasking.

Lately...

Maddie had a few friends over to play the other day and her new dress ups got some good use. At one point during the play date I overheard Maddie ask her friend, "Don't you love to play with me, Sammy?" 

• We are all a little under the weather around here (insert hacking coughs) so our MLK holiday has consisted of grocery shopping and taking naps. But hey, Ryan has the day off so groceries and naps is just fine with me. 
• Speaking of grocery shopping, I made my way to Trader Joes this weekend. Have I mentioned how much I love Trader Joes? My current favorite products are their Spicy Chipotle Pepper Hummus, freeze-dried banana chips, and Candy Cane Joe Joe's (Oreos with candy cane bits infused into the creme center---currently on after-holiday clearance!). 
• Like many of you, I have recently become acquainted with Pinterest. While it can be overwhelming at times, there are also tons of great things about that lovely virtual pin board. Aside from being a great place to find and organize new recipes, one of my favorite things so far has been the link I found to homemade laundry soap. Seriously, 9 months worth of laundry soap for less than $20? And it took me about 10 minutes to mix it all together. I can even take Ryan mocking me for it ("You made your own laundry soap?!? Now I know what to tell my co-workers when they ask how we survive on a resident's salary with three children...'my wife makes her own laundry soap'"). I don't think I can ever go back to expensive laundry soap again...Here's the link.
• A friend and I recently started a weekly play date. We rotate between our homes and our kids run around like crazies for a couple of hours in the afternoon while she and I work on a different project around the house. For example, I hosted a couple of weeks ago so she helped me reorganize my spice cupboard. The next week it was at her place and I helped her put all of her Christmas decorations away. I seriously look forward to our time together each week because it's win/win all around: the kids are happy because they get to play with their friends, we're happy because we get to catch up and chat for a couple of hours, AND we get to accomplish something while doing it. Not to mention that it makes the witching hours of the late afternoon fly by. 
• I have been thinking a lot lately about school for my children next year. Kindergarten for Isaac and preschool for Maddie (Should I send her or keep her home?). Our neighborhood school seems wonderful. It was the main reason we chose the neighborhood that we did and I have heard nothing but positive reviews from parents. That said, there is also a Magnet school that I am really interested in because it is dual language--both Spanish and English. Speaking to my children almost (but not quite) exclusively in Spanish has been something that I have really enjoyed. It has also been a bigger sacrifice than I ever thought possible. I fear that if and when Isaac starts school, his Spanish language skills will plummet because he won't have me yapping at him all day and all my hard work will be for not. Putting him in a dual language program would do wonders for his bilingual abilities. We are going to tour the school later this week. If we do like it, we can apply and our application will be put into a lottery. Who knows if he will even be accepted. Weighing the pros and cons of each school is concerning me more than I thought it would. I used to think those parents who worried about where to send their children to school were a little bit crazy. Now I'm one of them.

Ike on a nearby trail riding his new bicycle. The weather was unseasonably warm this day. When it's not 60 degrees outside we have a little bike path set up in the unfinished basement where the kids love to ride, often for hours at a time.

Random Thoughts in No Particular Order...

A friend of mine recently referred to herself on her blog as a "phonetograher." I am adopting that title for myself as well because most of the time I am just too lazy to pull out my mediocre pocket camera instead. Thus the semi-blurry picture of my kids and I outside a bakery.

• The East coast has a reputation for being populated with people who are unkind and frigid. I have not found this to be the case. For example, just this afternoon when the older kids and I took a walk to a local bakery another of the bakery's patrons offered to take a picture of the three of us together outside. 
• I am so excited for fall, especially fall in Connecticut. I have been told there is nothing quite like it and my expectations are through the roof. Don't let me down, CT. 
• Last Autumn our family got to spend a month with Ryan's brother and his family in Colorado. Thinking about all the heavenly treats I want to bake makes me miss them. Becky and I baked ourselves sick with pumpkin desserts last year. It was awesome.
• In one week, on 9/10/11, I will celebrate my birthday. That's even cooler than a golden birthday if you ask me. I'm turning 33, so I guess that means I'm mid-thirties now, huh? I actually really like this age. Thirty-something has treated me well so far.
• Speaking of getting older, my sister and I have talked on more than one occasion about how we aren't too bothered by some of the physical signs of aging that we are starting to notice about ourselves (minus gray hairs. I pull them out whenever I spot them). She sent me a little package this last week. Included in it was some of her amazing vinyl and one of the quotes she sent me was by Mark Twain: "Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." I'm totally hanging that one on my bathroom wall. I love it. 
• Isaac was riding his tricycle up a fairly steep hill today while we were at the park. As he pedaled his bike closer and closer to the "summit" of the hill, he started grunting loudly and yelling, "This is so hard! But I.CAN.DO.IT! Because I can do hard things!" I hope he always believes that about himself.
• I recently read about a study done on gratitude journals. Those who kept a diary of things they were grateful for were said to be more content with their lives. I don't know how scientific the study was, but it intrigued me enough to start one myself.  I don't write in in everyday like I would like to, but when I do, it only takes me five minutes and I can honestly say that it has helped me have an overall more cheerful attitude about life. Totally worth five minutes a day. Plus, it gives me a place to write down funny things my kids say that I would otherwise forget. 
• Like this: I watched the Wizard of Oz with my older kids for the first time today, but to Maddie, he was instead, "The Lizard of All."
• I deactivated my facebook account about a year ago. I think FB can be fabulous, but I was wasting way too much time on it. Until I reactivated it today, that it, so that I could open up a Pinterest account. My sisters have been raving about it and I finally decided I had to see what it's all about.  Oh, then I deleted my FB account again. I just can't trust myself... butI still peak at Ryan's more often than I should just to see what family is up to.
• We have started doing a babysitting swap with some friends that live close to us. Right now I am watching their sleeping children and next week they will watch ours so my hubby and I can go on a hot date. It's a sweet arrangement that gives us each two dates a month, sometimes more. I think everyone who has children and is on a budget (i.e. doesn't want to pay for a sitter) should do a swap-a-roo like this one.
• My 17-month old is a bully to his older siblings and I'm not sure what to do about it. Just the other day I heard Maddie shrieking (she can really ham it up) so I ran into the room to find that Davis had backed her into a corner and was turbo-hitting her with a gigantic grin on his face. As soon as he sees me he always blurts out an enthusiastic "SAAWWWEEE (sorry)!!!!"If he weren't my child I would find his actions hilariously funny. Seriously, she is a good 12 inches taller than him and he can torment her (and his older brother) like no other. One of these days they are going to retaliate and it won't be pretty.
• I am homesick for my family. So much so that I counted yesterday that Ryan only has 34 more months of his podiatry residency left. 2 down, 34 to go. I really need my Massachusetts sister back.
• I am reading Anna Karenina for book club this month. I would never in a million years choose to read that 700+ page book just for pleasure on my own, but I am enjoying it. Let's hope I can get really into it enough to read the last 400 pages in the next 10 days. Because remember, these women are serious about their books and I can't afford to show up unprepared again. I'm still a newbie. That being said, I'm off to read all about scandalous Russians.